KRON4 movie critic Jan Wahl joins the San Francisco Gay Chorus for the HIV/AIDS fundraiser Lights, Camera, Action! March 6 at the Marine’s Memorial Theatre.

It’s hard to say which came first, Jan Wahl’s love for films or her appreciation and commitment to the LGBT community. 

As San Francisco’s favorite movie critic, Wahl’s extensive knowledge of Hollywood – and massive collection of fabulous hats — are well-documented. Her critiques of todayy’s hottest films and celebrity interviews appear everywhere from KRON-TV (Channel 4) to the San Francisco Examiner. What’s lesser-known, perhaps, is that Wahl is also a long-time supporter of all things gay and frequent fundraiser, especially for causes closest to her heart, like those affecting the LGBT community.

On Sat., March 6, Wahl joins San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus specialty ensembles The Lollipop Guild and Vocal Minority, who are making their debut in downtown’s theatre district, for two performances of Lights, Camera, Action! Scheduled on the eve of the Academy Awards at the Marines Memorial Theatre, the event showcases some of the silver screen’s most memorable music while raising money for Bay Area HIV/AIDS service organizations. 

In preparation for the event, and in anticipation of Hollywood’s biggest night of the year, the woman who describes herself as “just an old drag queen who bleeds sequins” is this week’s Bay Times “Spotlight.” 

(Bay Times) Go out on a limb and make your Oscars predictions. Who are going to be the big winners this year?

(Wahl) I think Avatar has a very good chance for Best Picture. [James Cameron] managed to use this new technology and make a film where, the last half is incredible! You stay with it. You feel it. You live it. I think Katherine Bigelow, because people are ready – finally! – for a woman to get Best Director. It’s not the best movie, or even the movie I voted for, but I think she’s going to get it. For Best Actor, I think it’s going to be Jeff Bridges. It’ll be the Jimmy Stewart Philadelphia Story award. That award was actually for [his role in] Mr. Smith Goes to Washingon. So this award will actually be for all the movies Jeff Bridges has made and all the people who love working with him. He’s been nominated before but never won, so he’s very popular. I think he’ll get it, but it’s not who I would have voted for. The woman, I think, will be Sandra Bullock for a very good, subtle, non-show-off – how do you say that? – performance in The Blind Side. It’s the award Julia Roberts got for Erin Brockovich. It’s the award for what we don’t expect, since we don’t expect Sandra Bullock to do this. It’s a surprisingly powerful movie I highly recommend. And, of course, Mo’Nique for Precious
and Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Bastards. 

You’re doing Lights, Camera, Action! — a concert with the Gay Menn’s Chorus which focuses on music in film. How did the Gay Men’s Chorus rope you into this?

Oh, they don’t rope me in! I’d do anything to be part of the Gay Men’s Chorus. For years I’ve been doing things with the Gay Men’s Chorus.

Sometimes Donna Sachet and I do Christmas Eve with them at the Castro Theatre. It’s such a spiritual high for me. The Gay Men’s Chorus is just the most amazing organization. My God, look what they do! They go around the world being the most wonderful ambassadors for us. They have beautiful voices. They’re guys from all walks of life. They just make my heart soar like an eagle. I think that’s a line from Little Big Man, but that’s what I mean. It’s just amazing what they do, so anytime they ask me to do anything, I say yes. We did a ‘60s type of event with Joan Baez at Davies Symphony Hall. And it’s always a fundraiser with the Gay Men’s Chorus. This one is for the Academy of Friends [with proceeds going to various Bay Area HIV/AIDS service organizations]. The Gay Men’s Chorus is like the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. They’re always raising money for organizations which help the GLBT community, and that’s the community which has my heart. That’s the community I am blessed to feel part of and love so deeply. I love these guys! And this is the Lollipop Guild. They’re a great little off-shoot of the Gay Men’s Chorus. They’re so talented, and they sing from the heart. They swing. They rock. I just love it! I love being part of it.

For so long you have been incredibly supportive of the gay community. You say you love and feel part of us. How did that come about?

Good question, Paul. Thank you for asking. I grew up in West Los Angeles, very fortunately with parents who had gay friends. I grew up with gay men and women. When I was a little girl, there was a bookstore in Hollywood where my mother would drop me off on her way to the market. I mean when I was a little girl. There were these gay guys there who used to work in the [film] studios. Some worked for the studios when there were silent movies. They were older, retired studio guys who all hung around collecting movie memorabilia at this one bookstore, which is now closed, the Cherokee Bookstore on Hollywood Blvd. My mom knew these guys, and I started hanging out with them as a little girl. They showed me the old Photoplay magazines, telling me stories about Norma Shearer and Jean Harlow, Valentino. I just fell in love with classic Hollywood through them and also my parents, who were very much about showing us old movies. My mom had gay women friends, too, who were over at our house and just part of the world. I came to, at a very early age, just love that community! First of all, drag queens are more “Hollywood” than today’s Hollywood! With drag queens, the glamour they bring is just part of what I love about Hollywood. The gay women who are the strong actresses, writers. You know, everybody fought the good fight! Gay people just “get me.” (She becomes emotional.) They get me in a way nobody else does. They know what I’m fighting for: I’m fighting for strong women. I’m fighting for glamour. I’m fighting for fun and over-the-top and cheering for the underdog. These are all things which are part of the GLBT community.

I’ve always believed every element of Hollywood has been touched by the LGBT community.

You’re absolutely right! Set decorators, directors, actors – even the poor actors and actresses who aren’t able to come out – writers, lighting, props, everything. It’s completely integrated, even if people aren’t allowed to come out. And songwriters! My God! There are so many stories I could tell. Remember that Kevin Costner film – it was awful – Waterworld? I went to the set of that in Hawaii, and I thought, “Oh, I can tell nobody gay worked on this film!” It was so boring, so dull. And all the women were just boring and not smart lesbians. I remember thinking, “Can we please get somebody LGBT in here?” And certainly music in film! I’m not sure the music [the Gay Men’s Chorus will] be singing, but I think of “The Wind Beneath My Wings” from Beaches or “Old Time Rock ‘n Roll” from Risky Business or “The Streets of Philadelphia” from Philadelphia. There are a lot of things which pertain to the community. “Mrs. Robinson” from The Graduate. “9 to 5,” the Dolly Parton number or even “You Can Leave Your Hat On” from 9-1/2 Weeks, of course I like that one! And certainly “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Off the top of my head, these are all songs which pertain to the LGBT community, so let’s get out there and sing, celebrate and have fun!

Tickets to Lights, Camera, Action! Are $27-39. More information at http://www.SFGMC.org